Member Article

£260 million Bradford shopping centre back on after delays and set to create 4,000 jobs

After 5 years of delays, Bradford is set for work to begin on a new £260 million Westfield shopping centre which developers say will create 4,000 retail and construction jobs.

Civic leaders described the development as one of the most important days in Bradford’s recent history, as it is hoped it will regenerate Bradford city centre.

According to an ITV report, excavators have moved into the area that’s locally known as “the hole in the ground”.

Building work is set to commence at the start of this year and by Christmas 2015 the development will be ready with 70 shops and restaurants and the biggest names in retail.

A spokesperson from Westfield developers said that it had taken so long to get off the ground due to the negative impact on the sector of the recession, which delayed and even halted many developments outside the South East.

They say it also marks the beginning of what they hope will be the revival of the city’s struggling retail sector.

David Cameron said of the project: “Projects like these stand as a great example to show that the growth fund has been used to attract the necessary private sector investment to deliver positive change in our cities”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .